NUDOWN, THE ONLY OUTERWEAR USING CUSTOMIZABLE, ON-DEMAND AIR FOR INSULATION, ARRIVES AT RETAIL THIS MONTH
RENO, Nev. (January 29, 2015) – NuDown (nudown.com), the only outerwear brand utilizing compressed air as insulation, today unveiled the first line of jackets and vests for men and women featuring NuTech, a proprietary technology enabling outdoor and winter sport enthusiasts to personalize their level of insulation, on demand, with air. Launching at the 2015 Outdoor Retailer Winter Market and the SIA Snow Show, NuTech provides warmth via a stowable pocketsize hand pump controlling the amount of air, resulting in user-customized insulation. Consumers pump air into dynamic chambers in the garment until it conforms snugly to the body, providing superior warmth and comfort. To decrease insulation for cooling, air is released via the same pump valve. Available for men and women, NuDown jackets and vests were tested at the Institute for Environmental Research (www.k-state.edu/ier/), the renowned thermal research facility at Kansas State University, and were awarded the best Clo (Clothing Insulation Value) warmth-to-weight ratio in comparison to similar fit and function of premium down jackets and vests.
“NuDown is changing the way consumers think about insulation,” said Bob Hall, CEO of NuDown. “Our patented NuTech inflation technology gives outdoor devotees the ability to control their body climate, depending on changing weather conditions or their level of activity. No need to drop off that extra layer in the base lodge or stop to stow it in a backpack. This is on-the-go flexibility, setting a new industry standard.”
The Fall 2015 collection includes six premium technical outerwear styles (three men’s, three women’s) inspired by the original Mount Whitney Vest and Squaw Peak Jacket.
The outerwear, which stays warm when wet, is windproof and waterproof and features Polartec stretch nylons outside for active performance, and a bamboo charcoal liner for ultra-wicking and odor control. NuDown jackets and vests feature double-slider waterproof YKK zippers, critically taped seams and a custom welding process that creates the air chambers. The line is available in seven colorways for men (asphalt, black, chili, macaw, navy, ski orange and strong blue) and nine colorways for women (asphalt, ballad blue, black, chili, macaw, navy, orchid, ski orange and winter white). Women’s outerwear is designed specifically for female physiques utilizing form-fitting silhouettes. Design and merchandising direction come from Patagonia veterans Julie Ringler and Kimi Davies-Rice. Every NuDown garment will come with RECCO® reflectors that bounce back a directional signal directing rescuers straight to the reflector. Unlike other technologies, multiple RECCO reflectors on a person can improve detection. Jackets and vests range in price from $400 to $600 and will be available worldwide Fall 2015 at selected ski and outdoor specialty retailers, and at nudown.com.